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Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Centre, Ralston AB (CAN)

Abstract

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) identi_ed a requirement for inert simulants to act as improvised, or home- made, explosives (IEs) when training on, or evaluating, ground penetrating radar (GPR) systems commonly used in the detection of buried landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In response, Defence R&D Canada (DRDC) initiated a project to develop IE simulant formulations using commonly available inert materials. These simulants are intended to approximate the expected GPR response of common ammonium nitrate-based IEs, in particular ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (ANFO) and ammonium nitrate/aluminum (ANAl). The complex permit- tivity over the range of electromagnetic frequencies relevant to standard GPR systems was measured for bulk quantities of these three IEs that had been fabricated at DRDC Su_eld Research Centre. Following these mea- surements, published literature was examined to _nd benign materials with both a similar complex permittivity, as well as other physical properties deemed desirable | such as low-toxicity, thermal stability, and commercial availability | in order to select candidates for subsequent simulant formulation. Suitable simulant formulations were identi_ed for ANFO, with resulting complex permittivities measured to be within acceptable limits of target values. These IE formulations will now undergo end-user trials with CAF operators in order to con_rm their utility. Investigations into ANAl simulants continues. This progress report outlines